Every year, thousands of deaths occur as a result of drunk driving, and every day people are facing the consequences of irresponsible drinking. Because of the issues caused by irresponsible drinking, the US government passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984 which raised the minimum drinking age to twenty-one to prevent drinking-related accidents and violence. Despite the intent of its passing, it was a counterproductive decision. Because of the higher age restriction, high school upperclassmen and college underclassmen see drinking as an exciting, rebellious act. Consequentially, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act resulted in an increase in dangerous and irresponsible drinking which continues to this day. Not only does the
So far, keeping the minimum drinking age at 21 has not dissuaded young people from consuming alcohol. If anything, underage people are becoming less educated on the physical, mental, and emotional health factors that are associated with consuming alcohol. This leads to young people to consume more alcohol and indulge in reckless behavior due to this ‘forbidden fruit’. If the minimum drinking age was lowered and alcohol awareness increased, people between the ages of 18 and 20 (and even younger) would not look at alcohol consumption as a challenge. This would not only take away the excitement of drinking, but could also reduce binge drinking, by
The legal age for drinking alcohol is 21, but people want to change it to 18 and think it’s a terrible idea. People think that changing the drinking age to 18 is a smart, but it really isn’t. There’s many reasons it shouldn’t be changed like, even more people would be irresponsible with alcohol, it will increase car accidents on the road, and younger teens will be able to have access to it.
In the United States, a citizen is considered an “adult” at the age of 18, and with that new title comes many responsibilities, such as the right to vote and to join the army. However, the legal drinking age in America is twenty-one. This issue has been a major controversy for some time now that faces both national and state governments. Should the drinking age be lowered to the age when legally a person becomes an adult and assumes all other adult responsibilities, or should it remain at a higher age to allow people to grow more mature and, hopefully, make more responsible decisions?
Alcohol is many people's drink of choice in several different situations. Whether it is a casual get together or a crazy out of control party, it is not hard for adolescents to get their hands on the substance even if it is illegal for them to purchase and drink it. However, even the parents and lawmakers of the most respectful teenagers can not ignore the growing rate of adolescents drinking earlier than 21. While it may be fun in the moment teens miss the steps of drinking responsibility and the long-term effects of partaking in it. Even though some lawmakers claim that lowering the drinking age would negatively affect the country, the long term effects of individuals drinking earlier could
Drinking and driving has become a dangerous trend in the United States lately. Many people have abused their privileges of driving, and mixed it with drinking. As many know, Drinking and driving has killed several people in the U.S. each year. Raising the drinking age would increase the number of deaths and injuries each year by a lot.
In the United States when a person reaches eighteen they are considered an adult in the eyes of the law. Being an adult in the eyes of the law means mature enough to vote, buy cigarettes, be charged as an adult for crime, even enlist for the Military. The law says an eighteen-year-old is mature enough to make life-altering choices, but is not yet ready to consume or purchase alcohol (“Drinking Age is 21 For a Reason”). There has been an ongoing controversy in the United States on whether the drinking age should be depressed to eighteen like most of the world has it or if it should remain at twenty-one. In our society today, this topic has caused much of a stir due to its major controversy when in all actuality the answer is clear; the legal drinking age should be lowered.
The United States’ minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of twenty one is almost a perfect example of a policy with unrealistic expectations and serious unintended consequences. The current policy that the United States has in effect criminalizes youth who consume alcohol at less than twenty one years of age. Young adults are going to drink under twenty one, so why shouldn’t the United States lower the MLDA to eighteen? Following Prohibition in 1933, many states made their MLDA twenty one. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, many states lowered it to eighteen to match the drafting age (Alcohol Policy MD). President Reagan passed The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 which required all states to raise their minimum purchase and public
When you turn 18, you consider an adult. You can vote, donate your own blood, buy your own property, buy guns, get a tattoo without parental consent, and can get prosecuted as an adult. Yet you can’t walk into your kitchen and drink a beer in United States at 18. All of this doesn't make sense considering that Civilrights.org explains how the 26th amendment sets precedence for adults in the United States to make their own decisions, but by have the drinking 21 we are not following this amendment.
The national drinking age in the United States has been 21 years old since 1984. Most people support the law, but what are the real consequences if the minimum drinking age is lowered? In Henry Wechsler’s article called “Will Increasing Alcohol Availability by Lowering the Minimum Legal Drinking Age Decrease Drinking and Related Consequences Among Youths?”, shows both sides of the argument about whether the legal drinking age should be lowered.
In 1984 congress changed the legal drinking age to 21, prior to that the legal drinking age was 18. In 1984 was when congress change the drinking age to 21. Is it time to change the legal drinking age back to 18? There are a total of 190 countries in the world. Sixty one percent of those countries have a legal drinking age of 18 or 19 years old, whereas the United States has a legal drinking age of 21. The age 18 in the U.S. is considered an adult. The adult abilities include, the right to vote, buy tobacco, work full time, acquire special licenses or permits, get married, apply for loans, for males you are required to register with the selective services, join the military, and also can be selected to serve in jury duty; yet being 18, no personal can legally drink.
The legal drinking age should not be lowered in the United States for the safety of all humans.
Many under the age of 21 are getting in trouble with the law in alcohol related incidents, which wouldn?t take place if the drinking age was lowered. Many underage drinkers drink in more dangerous places in order to avoid law enforcement. "... when these young adults ?drink on the sly in unsupervised settings, they are
The controversy on the proper drinking age is one that has been repeatedly discussed and researched over the years. Its common to hear the argument “If someone is old enough to take a bullet for their country, they should be allowed to drink alcohol.” But is that enough justification? Some would say no. “According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) it is estimated that in 2004 there were more than 1,700 student deaths, 599,000 injuries, and 696,000 assaults annually associated with excessive drinking” (Fennell 247). Given these numbers, would lowering the drinking age really be the best thing for America’s youth?
The laws concerning the minimum drinking age in this country sometimes seem ridiculous and unnecessary. In this paper, I will discuss why certain laws are unfair and I will provide alternatives to certain problems concerning underage drinking and binge drinking.